FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A challenging non-conference slate that includes trips to Michigan State and Villanova highlights the 2022 Fairfield University Volleyball schedule, which was announced on Tuesday by Head Coach Todd Kress. The ledger also includes the return of the Fairfield Invitational as a part of the Stags' 14 home matches.
 
"Top to bottom, our non-conference schedule is among the strongest that I've ever had at Fairfield," said Head Coach Todd Kress. "We are looking forward to the challenge of our trips to Michigan State and Villanova and to bringing a weekend of very high-level volleyball to our campus for the Fairfield Invitational."

Fairfield's 11 non-conference opponents boast an average 2021 final RPI of 166, including top-50 teams Washington State (36) and High Point (48). Nine of the 11 squads held a better RPI at the close of 2021 than any of Fairfield's nine MAAC opponents.
 
The journey begins in East Lansing, Mich., where the Stags will challenge Eastern Michigan, Louisiana and the host Michigan State Spartans on Aug. 26-27. EMU and Louisiana are both first-time opponents for the Stags –  two of three new foes on the 2022 schedule – while Fairfield has met Michigan State on three occasions, including in the 2016 NCAA Championship First Round.
 
Another tough round of road matches is on deck at the Villanova Classic from Sept. 2-4. The Stags will battle New Hampshire, Lafayette and Villanova over the three-day stretch.
 
The Stags open their second season on the RecPlex Court on Wednesday, Sept. 7 against visiting St. John's. That weekend, Fairfield will play four more home matches as Fairleigh Dickinson, Washington State, High Point and Howard come to campus for the Fairfield Invitational from Sept. 9-11.  Reigning MEAC Champion Howard is a first-time opponent for the Stags.
 
The Stags open the MAAC schedule with the longest trip of the conference slate, heading to Western New York to meet Canisius and Niagara on Sept. 17-18. In total, Fairfield plays its first four MAAC matches away from home as the next weekend sends the Stags to Marist and Siena.
 
As the calendar turns to October, Fairfield kicks off a four-match homestand, hosting Quinnipiac on Oct. 1, Manhattan and Iona on Oct. 8-9 and Marist on Oct. 12. A trek to New Jersey rounds out the first half of the league ledger as the Stags visit Saint Peter's and Rider on Oct. 15-16.
 
The second half of the MAAC calendar starts at the RecPlex against Niagara and Canisius on Oct. 22-23 and a midweek visit from Siena on Oct. 26. The month concludes in Hamden against Quinnipiac on Oct. 29.

The stretch run of the regular season sees the Stags travel to Iona and Manhattan on Nov. 5-6 and then closing out their tenure at the RecPlex against Rider and Saint Peter's on Nov. 12-13.
 
For the first time since 2018, the MAAC Championship will be held at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. from Nov. 16-19. The full-field bracket means that top seeds in the tournament will receive byes, while the lower seeds will need to win as many as four matches to take home the conference crown.
 
"With the MAAC Tournament bringing all 10 teams together in Disney this year, the conference season is more important than ever," Kress noted. "If we want a top seed to put ourselves in the best position to contend for the championship down in Florida, we need to play our best volleyball every weekend of the MAAC slate."
 
Fairfield Volleyball will play its home matches inside the Fairfield University RecPlex as construction concludes on the new on-campus arena. Admission to the RecPlex is free for all fans.